Sophie Wynkoop
California is not known for being a hurricane-prone area. This is mostly due to two reasons: California has cold sea surface temperatures while hurricanes typically form in places with very high sea surface temperatures and the usual path of hurricanes is in the eastern pacific region. On average, hurricanes move westward because they’re steered by upper-level winds. These winds push the hurricanes far away from land and in the direction of the sea. It is more common for hurricanes to occur in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. California is more prone to other natural disasters like earthquakes and wildfires.
Even with the rarity of hurricanes in California, a large one hit southern California in the month of August. When hurricane Hilary was first forecasted, the National Hurricane Center, or NHC, issued a tropical storm warning for Southern California. The initial forecast was that some western states were to receive “more than a year’s worth of rain”. This would be catastrophic for not only residents of these states but also the large amount of farming that occurs in these locations. The anticipation of hurricane Hilary caused fear in millions of people in many US western states, not only California. Arizona, Nevada, and Utah as well as California were labeled as high risk areas for flash flooding. People in California had mixed reactions to the hurricane. Some were concerned about the potential damage and took necessary precautions, while others were excited to witness a rare weather event. Overall, the focus was on staying safe and minimizing the impact of the hurricane.
It is very fortunate that the impact hurricane Hilary left on Southern California ended up being less severe than expected. The worst things that the hurricane did in California were causing flooding, power outages, and property damage in some areas. There were luckily a very small number of casualties. Records for rainiest hurricanes were broken in four states: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. The new mark in Nevada is also even more than double the previous record! Still, the United States is very fortunate to not have any grave setbacks due to the hurricane. It was a challenging time for those affected, but the community came together to support each other and recover.
If you’re looking to help those affected by natural disasters like Hurricane Hilary in the United States, one way to contribute is by donating to organizations that provide relief and support. These organizations often have international branches or partnerships that allow people outside of the United States to contribute! This is very good for American expatriates at Saint Maur or anyone else who is living outside of the US and wants to help. Additionally, spreading awareness and sharing information about fundraising efforts can help raise funds and support for those in need.
Sophie Wynkoop